Preaching to the Perverted

Urban's ability to structure objective perspectives around emotionally and socially sensitive contexts takes us to the S&M club scene of London. Cleverly using black humour to disguise the join between the perspective and the context, it takes the completion of the movie to realise that the only view its interwoven statements have left us with is to question our own need to have an opinion. The verbal scaffolding doesn't allow us to avoid the process as it sympathetically leads us into a world of fantasy to affirm how it mirrors the social dynamics of hum drum reality - but with a lot more honesty and safety controls. Tanya is strong. Gosh, with so many people depending on her, it's enough to force a girl to dominate. Her alluring detachment is the only way to keep the world ticking for everybody who needs to be told what to do. The staid enable the illicit; and how will people feel good about themselves without being able to judge others? Well, it's a lonely job but somebody's got to do it – although you have to wonder who's controlling who (soundfamiliar?). And what do you do when the fantasy becomes the reality?

The stylish, dated cinematography really suits the necessary pace of this cult movie, but a remake could be extremely interesting. Jo Parker

Gorgeously shot. There's a lot more going on here than just the SBDSM. The performances are solid and the story is funny and even a little touching. Big recommend.

In Germany there was much fuss about this film, as we´ve heard much about it, but it was hard to obtain at first. Finally, someone managed, and meanwhile I´ve seen the film in its English original and in a translated version. I loved it at first sight! Tanya makes a dream of a domina, and Peter´s so sweet... I presume, you enjoy it more when you´re a member of the fetish/sm-community, but the gags - I mean jokes ;) - should be intelligible by everyone, I think. Of course you need a strong sense of humour, and you shouldn´t feel offended by people who feel good kneeling in a cage, being beaten and stuff like this. It´s in no way a true insight of the fetish-scene - it´s too much dreams coming true ;) - but it´s fun for the kinks and open-minded vanillas, too. And that´s more to say of than of any other film I know. Kaya

I didn't have huge expectations of this movie, and thus was pleasantly surprised. It is basically a romantic comedy dressed up in outrageous clothing!

Guinevere Turner from Go Fish is the super cool star, and spends most of the film strutting around in a selection of stunning fetish outfits. It is interesting to get an honest insight into the Fetish world, but thankfully the details are not too gory.

It was also good to hear a soundtrack featuring dance music that you would actually hear in London/English clubs.

The film has some good deadpan humour, and has quite a feel-good atmosphere. Definitely worth a look.

First of all, let me say that I know nothing about the S&M scene in London or anywhere else for that matter. But from an outsider's viewpoint, I enjoyed this film a lot. Guinevere Turner was stunning and a great dominatrix, the film was fresh and funny, an interesting, amusing take on somewhat of a taboo subject. The film was on the whole a visual feast with good direction but not without its bad points. Christien Anholt as Peter was appalling. He simply cannot act. Lucky for him, there was so much else going on. The script is a bit clumsy and the ending a little anti-climatic but who cares when the film itself is so much fun? Extra credit for getting some great bit-part roles from Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston and Roger Lloyd-Pack (Trigger from "Only Fools and Horses"!).